On the origin of the flux ratio anomaly in quadruple lens systems

Abstract

We explore the origin of flux ratio anomaly in quadruple lens systems. Using a semi-analytic method based on $N$-body simulations, we estimate the effect of possible magnification perturbation caused by subhaloes with a mass scale of <$\sim 10^9\,h^{-1} \textrm{M}_\odot$ in lensing galaxy haloes. Taking into account astrometric shifts, assuming that the primary lens is described by a singular isothermal ellipsoid, the expected change to the flux ratios per a multiply lensed image is just a few percent and the mean of the expected convergence perturbation at the effective Einstein radius of the lensing galaxy halo is $ 0.003$, corresponding to the mean of the ratio of a projected dark matter mass fraction in subhaloes at the effective Einstein radius $0.006$. In contrast, the expected change to the flux ratio caused by line-of-sight structures is typically $\sim 10$ percent and the mean of the convergence perturbation is $0.008$, corresponding to $0.017$. The contribution of magnification perturbation caused by subhaloes is $\sim 40$ percent of the total at a source redshift $z_S= 0.7$ and decreases monotonically in $z_S$ to $\sim 20$ percent at $z_S= 3.6$. Assuming statistical isotropy, the convergence perturbation estimated from observed 11 quadruple lens systems has a positive correlation with the source redshift $z_S$, which is much stronger than that with the lens redshift $z_L$. This feature also supports an idea that the flux ratio anomaly is caused mainly by line-of-sight structures rather than subhaloes. We also discuss about a possible imprint of line-of-sight structures in demagnification of minimum images due to locally underdense structures in the line of sight.